Ask Shearman & Sterling Anything!

[Paul - Shearman & Sterling]

Hi everyone,

In case you have seen this yet, we have launched our inaugural 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 & 𝗟𝗮𝘄𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 programme – 𝗕.𝗨.𝗜.𝗟.𝗗 @ 𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻 in association with Chevron. Here is a summary of the internship:

• BUILD is a month-long internship, in our London office, that will provide work experience and mentoring opportunities for talented students from the Black community
• Interns will have the opportunity to experience different practice groups including Antitrust, Finance, Funds, International Arbitration, M&A and Project Development & Finance
• Interns will be assigned supervisors and mentors who will provide guidance during the programme, as well as ongoing mentoring following completion of the internship
• High-performing Interns will be fast-tracked and guaranteed an interview for a subsequent vacation scheme

Further details here: https://ukgraduates.shearman.com/opportunities/build/

Applications are open until midnight Sunday 6 June.

 

[Dwight]

Hi @Paul - Shearman & Sterling,

I hope this message finds you well.

How many schemes will there be next year and when will they be (winter, spring, summer etc)? Also, when are the applications likely to open?

Thanks.

 

[Paul - Shearman & Sterling]

Hi @Dwight

Thanks for the question. We will be running 4 schemes in the next academic year - winter, spring (x 2) and summer. We are planning to open the application cycle 1st September.

Thanks,

Paul

 

[Dwight]

Hi @Dwight

Thanks for the question. We will be running 4 schemes in the next academic year - winter, spring (x 2) and summer. We are planning to open the application cycle 1st September.

Thanks,

Paul

Thanks for getting back to me, @Paul - Shearman & Sterling.

How long will each scheme be and will they be virtual or in-person? Also, is it possible to find out the application questions before applications open on 1st September?

Thank you.

 

[Paul - Shearman & Sterling]

Thanks for getting back to me, @Paul - Shearman & Sterling.

How long will each scheme be and will they be virtual or in-person? Also, is it possible to find out the application questions before applications open on 1st September?

Thank you.

Hi @Dwight

Each scheme is two weeks long, and we are planning to run them in-person.

The application questions will be the same this year. You might find this video useful; it gives you some tips on how to plan your answers.

https://ukgraduates.shearman.com/2020/12/09/writing-training-contract-applications/

Thanks,

Paul

 

[k.k]

Hi Paul, I've seen that Shearman & Sterling have minimum academic requirements. However, would a application still be considered if it doesn't meet the A Level requirements but does meet the 2.1 requirement? And are mitigating circumstances take into consideration? Thanks!

 

[Dwight]

Hi @Dwight

Each scheme is two weeks long, and we are planning to run them in-person.

The application questions will be the same this year. You might find this video useful; it gives you some tips on how to plan your answers.

https://ukgraduates.shearman.com/2020/12/09/writing-training-contract-applications/

Thanks,

Paul

Hi @Paul - Shearman & Sterling,

Thanks for that. I watched the video and it is very helpful - concise and to the point on what is required to write an application. I have recommended it to some friends!

What are the application questions? I am unaware of them and would like to plan my application early.

Also, are all of the schemes open to final-year students?

Thank you.

 

[Paul - Shearman & Sterling]

Hi Paul, I've seen that Shearman & Sterling have minimum academic requirements. However, would a application still be considered if it doesn't meet the A Level requirements but does meet the 2.1 requirement? And are mitigating circumstances take into consideration? Thanks!

Hi @k.k

Yes we have minimum academic requirements (most firms do). If a candidate has mitigating circumstances that have affected their academic performance, then we will absolutely take this into consideration.

Thanks,

Paul

 

[Paul - Shearman & Sterling]

Hi @Paul - Shearman & Sterling,

Thanks for that. I watched the video and it is very helpful - concise and to the point on what is required to write an application. I have recommended it to some friends!

What are the application questions? I am unaware of them and would like to plan my application early.

Also, are all of the schemes open to final-year students?

Thank you.

Hi @Dwight

The application questions are detailed in the video.

Yes, all of our schemes are open to final year students, whether they are studying law or not.

Thanks,

Paul

 

[nehasunil88]

Hi Paul
Thank you for taking the time to reply to this thread. I am sure you are extremely busy. I am a final year LLB undergraduate and plan on applying to Shearman for its vacation scheme this cycle. In case I fail to obtain a TC offer, I will go on to do an LLM SQE. I know that Shearman has not made any firm plans about the SQE yet so will me undertaking the SQE instead of the LPC disadvantage me in the application process?

 

[Paul - Shearman & Sterling]

Hi @nehasunil88

Thanks for the question. It's clear you have already made an excellent choice - planning to apply to Shearman & Sterling!

Re the SQE - all law firms will be moving to this in the next couple of years with there being a transitional period. Studying the SQE will not be a disadvantage.

Typically law firms don't make hiring decisions based on what postgraduate/professional qualifications you have taken.

I hope that helps.

Paul

 

[summer207]

Hi @Paul - Shearman & Sterling, I hope you are well. I’m an international student so I can only apply if the vacation scheme dates are outside my term dates (to work full-time). However, Shearman’s winter and spring VS dates fall within my term time. My final term ends June 17th 2022, so I was wondering if I would be able to apply for the summer one although it starts June 14th?

 

[Paul - Shearman & Sterling]

Hi @Paul - Shearman & Sterling, I hope you are well. I’m an international student so I can only apply if the vacation scheme dates are outside my term dates (to work full-time). However, Shearman’s winter and spring VS dates fall within my term time. My final term ends June 17th 2022, so I was wondering if I would be able to apply for the summer one although it starts June 14th?

Hi @summer207

We've actually changed the date of our Summer Vacation Scheme. It will now run from 21 June - 1 July, so you should be ok.

Further details here: https://ukgraduates.shearman.com/opportunities/vacation-schemes/

Thanks,

Paul

 

[ibs97]

Hi @Dwight

Each scheme is two weeks long, and we are planning to run them in-person.

The application questions will be the same this year. You might find this video useful; it gives you some tips on how to plan your answers.

https://ukgraduates.shearman.com/2020/12/09/writing-training-contract-applications/

Thanks,

Paul

Hi Paul,

do you think the schemes will definitely be in person or is it flexible depending on how the covid situation progresses in the autumn?

 

[Paul - Shearman & Sterling]

Hi Paul,

do you think the schemes will definitely be in person or is it flexible depending on how the covid situation progresses in the autumn?

Yes, it depends on the COVID situation, but the plan is to run them in-person as our preferred option.

 

[ibs97]

Yes, it depends on the COVID situation, but the plan is to run them in-person as our preferred option.

Thank you! Just one more quick question – as grad rec, would you view paralegal experience on a candidate's CV as more beneficial over further study (LLM) or would it not really matter?

 

[Paul - Shearman & Sterling]

Thank you! Just one more quick question – as grad rec, would you view paralegal experience on a candidate's CV as more beneficial over further study (LLM) or would it not really matter?

Personally, I'd prefer to see paralegal work experience over a LLM given that scenario.

 

[Dwight]

Hi @Dwight

The application questions are detailed in the video.

Yes, all of our schemes are open to final year students, whether they are studying law or not.

Thanks,

Paul

Thank you for your response, @Paul - Shearman & Sterling.

Apologies - I did not mean to ask that question for this thread. I was meaning to check whether each question is a maximum of 250 words?

Thank you.

 

[Paul - Shearman & Sterling]

Thank you for your response, @Paul - Shearman & Sterling.

Apologies - I did not mean to ask that question for this thread. I was meaning to check whether each question is a maximum of 250 words?

Thank you.

Hi @Dwight - yes, 250 words per answer.

 

[corplaw0702]

Hi @summer207

We've actually changed the date of our Summer Vacation Scheme. It will now run from 21 June - 1 July, so you should be ok.

Further details here: https://ukgraduates.shearman.com/opportunities/vacation-schemes/

Thanks,

Paul

Dear Paul,

I am on a visa that allows 20 paid hours/week during term-time and I have four days overlapping between my term and Shearman's winter/spring vacation scheme dates. Does this allow me to only apply to the summer scheme?

Thanks!